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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ I'ma charging mah laz0r!
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 04:56 PM
http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=154600
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 13, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today introduced the FIRESTRIKE™ laser, a ruggedized, high-energy, solid-state laser designed as a line replaceable unit (LRU) for battlefield applications, ready for order now.
Photos accompanying this release are available at http://media.primezone.com/noc/
The FIRESTRIKE™ laser offers warfighters a 15 kilowatt (kW) fieldable laser as well as a combinable LRU building block for much higher power, based on a laser beam combining architecture validated by Northrop Grumman over many years with the Joint High Power Solid State Laser program, Vesta and Vesta II.
"We are ready to deliver on the promise of defense at the speed of light with FIRESTRIKE™," said Dan Wildt, vice president of Directed Energy Systems for Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector. "The FIRESTRIKE™ laser power per cubic foot has been greatly enhanced from its successful laboratory predecessors."
He noted the FIRESTRIKE™ laser has been hardened for military uses but also was designed with life-cycle costs and reliability in mind. "FIRESTRIKE™ is designed for field operations and simple replacement," Wildt added.
"This is a rugged electric laser with power levels, beam quality and runtime suitable for offensive and defensive military utility. Also available is a newly designed laser current source assembly (LCSA), which is compact, and specifically developed to precisely meet FIRESTRIKE™'s power needs. Combined with advanced electro optical and/or infrared sensors, the FIRESTRIKE™ laser can provide self-defense, precision strike and enhanced situational awareness capabilities."
The FIRESTRIKE™ laser is a line replaceable system that allows for scaling a laser weapon to desired power levels for specific warfighting applications and platforms. Northrop Grumman believes that FIRESTRIKE™ laser will form the backbone of future laser weapon systems.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.
FIRESTRIKE™ Laser Features
Power 15kW laser
Beam Quality Nominally 1.5 times the diffraction limit
Size Laser head - 12" x 23" x 40" (width, depth, height)
Current source - 9" x 13" x 30"
Runtime Continuous, as long as power and coolant are
provided
Instant Turn-on Zero to full power in less than 1/2 second
Safety Remote operation, customer interlock access,
internal safety sensors
Control Common Command and Control (C2) systems and
Ethernet interfaces
Low Power Setting Provides nominally 100 watt alignment beam
Weight 400 lbs per LRU
Ruggedization Hardened LRUs with compact SSL technology
engineered for mobility and field operations
CONTACT: Linda Javier
Northrop Grumman Space Technology
310.813.5614
Cell: 310.386.1644
linda.javier@ngc.com
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 11 2011, 05:05 PM
Huh. Grumman made some noise about the Firestrike like three years ago. It's finally in production?
Now we can have GI-Joe pew pew fights!
-k
Posted by: Draco18s Jul 11 2011, 05:11 PM
Well, its not actually a gun. The unit itself is 12" x 23" x 40" (ie. rather large).
Posted by: Mr. Smileys Jul 11 2011, 05:12 PM
And it weighs 400 lbs or 181.44 kilograms
Posted by: Summerstorm Jul 11 2011, 05:22 PM
So what? Easily troll-portable *g*
Posted by: HunterHerne Jul 11 2011, 05:29 PM
From what I'm told by a military guy, guns are the big cannons, the small ones are (mostly) incorrectly identified by the general public.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 05:29 PM
So we can switch out the minigun for the gatling laser from FalloutFame . . i am cool with that ^^
Posted by: Smokeskin Jul 11 2011, 05:54 PM
What sort of damage can it do? Burn out retinas? Vaporize tanks? Range?
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 05:57 PM
At 15KW I think that Vaporization of Hard Targets is pretty much out. But it would be nice to have some damage comparisons.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 06:25 PM
15kw for one unit.
you can add 7 units to one big array.
i think then it goes to 105kw and then you are cooking with plasma.
Posted by: Draco18s Jul 11 2011, 06:29 PM
you can add 7 units to one big array.
i think then it goes to 105kw and then you are cooking with plasma.
Don't forget to give it a splash of flavor from your spice weasel.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 06:40 PM
So, when do we get it in the 50 Megawatt range?
And equip them on frickin' sharks?
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 06:42 PM
1.21 Gigawatts.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 06:46 PM
Just don't drive past 88 MPH with that one attached to the car. 
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 07:28 PM
Heh... Blast from the Past. Or is that Future?
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 07:29 PM
It's all relative, when operating at the speed of light.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 07:34 PM
How very True...
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 07:48 PM
*Sings in the key of off*
"She's a Killer Queen;
Gunpowder, Gelatine;
Dynamite with a laser beam;
Guaranteed to blow your mind;
Anytime"
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 08:12 PM
"She's a Killer Queen;
Gunpowder, Gelatine;
Dynamite with a laser beam;
Guaranteed to blow your mind;
Anytime"
You should really start running Canray.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 08:34 PM
How many times have I said I wanted to play Shadowrun? I've been wanting to 'run since '92!
...
Oh, the other type of running. Yeah, can't do that. I'd only die tired and sore.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 08:39 PM
...
Oh, the other type of running. Yeah, can't do that. I'd only die tired and sore.
Yep, you're right, those Marine Corps Snipers are downright rude...
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 08:47 PM
Canadian Armed Forces are even worse.
And if we start putting lasers in the hands of snipers, where they don't have to worry about things like windage, rotational spin, and muzzle drop...
Well, physical obstacles and curvature of the Earth are all that'll stop them after that.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 08:49 PM
And if we start putting lasers in the hands of snipers, where they don't have to worry about things like windage, rotational spin, and muzzle drop...
Well, physical obstacles and curvature of the Earth are all that'll stop them after that.
Ain't that the Truth...
I'd put my Marines agianst your Mounties any time...
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 11 2011, 08:50 PM
And the refraction factor/reflection coefficient
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 08:52 PM
"I keep shooting the car the Tango is in, but it has no effect." "Damnit, it's a DeLorian that's been polished to a high shine and mirrored windows! We can't affect it!"
Posted by: Smokeskin Jul 11 2011, 09:31 PM
A 0.2 second pulse could then heat over 10 cubic centimeters of water from body temperature to boiling point. Sounds like a lethal anti-personnel weapon.
Posted by: Faelan Jul 11 2011, 09:33 PM
And if we start putting lasers in the hands of snipers, where they don't have to worry about things like windage, rotational spin, and muzzle drop...
Well, physical obstacles and curvature of the Earth are all that'll stop them after that.
I wantz one, yes my precious lazer rifle, better than a Barrett, better than AI, better than a Walther, better than apple pie! Reach out and touch someone.
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 11 2011, 09:40 PM
Indeed it does...
Posted by: Halinn Jul 11 2011, 11:04 PM
Wasn't that sort of a thing in Stargate as well? Screw energy weapons, we have bullets!
Posted by: CanRay Jul 11 2011, 11:10 PM
"This... Is a weapon of terror." *Shoots at target with energy staff and hits one shot in four, starting a small fire* "This... Is a weapon of war." *Shreds target with P90*
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 12:05 AM
Well remember, the Asgard did turn to the SG team because their weapons were so stupid they worked. "I'll go, Col." "I don't know, Carter. Not sure you can be dumb enough." "I'll try, sir".
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 12:11 AM
When all you need is a hammer.
Honestly, projectile weapons are effective even in science fiction because of one basic fact: Simplicity. Even when you miniaturize the system to insane rates, you can pad it up with shock proofing and make it effective for even the most uneducated and brute force grunt you can find.
That said, sometimes that laser does come in handy. Like Sniper Situations as I stated, if they're able to get through the refraction issue. Personally, a Shoulder-Mounted, Backpack Battery-fed laser used as an Anti-Armour weapon scares me.
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 12 2011, 12:17 AM
What is to prevent an air-carried 100kw unit on a clear day from just saturating an entire battlefield with laser energy for hours at a time?
You basically can't field ground troops with this thing around.
-k
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 12:21 AM
"So, we're carrying around these Disco Balls... Why again?"
EDIT: Spooky just got a light show!
Posted by: Randomonioum Jul 12 2011, 12:22 AM
"All our most high tech weapons... foiled by a simple hand mirror!"
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 12:29 AM
It's really obscure, but I remember one of Dad's "Weird War Tales" comics that had a WWII soldier transported into the future, where he met his Grandson who was also fighting in Italy, and had a giant metal dome "Foxhole" that was designed to protect against Sonic Attack.
They also had jetpacks, of course.
As high tech things come forward, high tech and low tech solutions to those things come to the forefront as well. Don't forget what can be done with a carelessly discarded tin of M&V and a hand grenade after all...
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 12:44 AM
So how far away are from Val Kilmer making lots and lots of popcorn?
Posted by: JanessaVR Jul 12 2011, 01:04 AM
Yes! That's just what I was thinking, reading all of this!
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 12 2011, 01:10 AM
I would point out that at the energy outputs we're talking about a hand mirror would last all of a few seconds before burning and melting.
-k
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 10:32 AM
Honestly, projectile weapons are effective even in science fiction because of one basic fact: Simplicity. Even when you miniaturize the system to insane rates, you can pad it up with shock proofing and make it effective for even the most uneducated and brute force grunt you can find.
That said, sometimes that laser does come in handy. Like Sniper Situations as I stated, if they're able to get through the refraction issue. Personally, a Shoulder-Mounted, Backpack Battery-fed laser used as an Anti-Armour weapon scares me.
Sounds like the Flash Gitz from DOW II
Edited:
By the way, anyone notice that it says:
"Runtime: continous, as long as coolant and power are provided" ?
Posted by: Draco18s Jul 12 2011, 01:40 PM
By the way, anyone notice that it says:
"Runtime: continous, as long as coolant and power are provided" ?
Of course I did. It's a friggin' laser, why wouldn't that be true?
Posted by: Randomonioum Jul 12 2011, 01:43 PM
-k
I know, but the sentiment still amuses me.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 01:48 PM
Well, if it stores energy for strong bursts in capacitators, then it only gets short strong bursts . .
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 03:50 PM
When they come out with a Laser Shotgun, I'll update my Zombie Plan.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 03:54 PM
Easy enough, you just need optics that split the one huge beam into several smaller ones . .
Or quickfire lasers and mirrors that quickly change the direction at which the beam exits the weapon.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 04:01 PM
The Zeds won't know what hit them!
...
Not that they ever did to begin with...
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 04:14 PM
I say we give the plans to the guy who built a WORKING laser pistol on youtube. See what his mind does with it.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 05:04 PM
That'S not a Laser but a Plasma Pistol. And pretty weak . .
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 07:11 PM
I thought he made both. One was a white laser and one was a HALO looking plasma... And still impressive for a hobbyist.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 07:13 PM
Yah, impressive still, that i will agree on . .
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 07:17 PM
I'm of the school of thought that radical minds get radical results. Most of the people making these advancements stay in the box too much. It's much like the X-Prize. Everyone kept trying to make it work the way shuttle launches have always happened. It wasn't until someone took the "obvious" idea of a two-stage take-off that something was done right. So, again, find the slackers who got kicked out of science classes when things went BOOM! Hehe
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 08:50 PM
You know, my science and chemistry classrooms were built like ammunition dumps, and I'm ashamed to say I know why now...
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 09:13 PM
ours looked like a bomb had gone off, after we were done with it . . which is, of course, pretty much what happened . .
again. and again. and then some similar thingies too . . i am not ashamed to say that despite almost failing chemistry, my boomex was always top notch <.<
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 09:17 PM
I grew up in a mining town. If it could blow up, we did so.
Electrical class was a hoot! We were watched too carefully in woodworking, however. Too many flammable items.
Posted by: Tanegar Jul 12 2011, 10:07 PM
You basically can't field ground troops with this thing around.
-k
That's... not really how lasers work. It's not a "spread" weapon. It produces a tightly collimated beam; the whole reason it even works as a weapon is that it produces a tightly collimated beam. Yes, you could mount a very powerful one on an aircraft, but it couldn't do anything that a Predator with a couple of Hellfires can't. Well, except that it doesn't have to worry about ammo.
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 10:23 PM
True. But what would the cost effectiveness be if one were to simply "paint" the field. Carpet bombing with a laser.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 10:29 PM
well, you need HUGE ammounts of energy to fire it, especially constantly . . and you need BOAT LOADS of cooling to boot, so it doesn't melt right out of your plane . .
also, the first real application of weaponized lazer cannons in the real world IS, in fact, mounting one in the nose of a 747 or something like that, and makt it shoot down missles . .
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 10:33 PM
Damn you Tesla. Why did you have to piss off Edison? We would have mastered this shit by now!
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 10:37 PM
Tesla was working on the use of directed energy as a weapon, actually. Well, rumors have it he was working on a working prototype . .
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 10:42 PM
The list of things he was working on is a very long list. The "Death Ray". Powering his house by siphoning the planet. Plugging a phone into the dirt and calling other dirt phones. Destroying buildings with a metronome. His electric car. That vampire had some wild ideas.
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 12 2011, 10:46 PM
Worse, they are all pretty much fesible as of todays technological advances . . had he lived 100 years later, we would have hover boards and flying cars and 3d holographic images already . .
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 12 2011, 10:48 PM
He is the key argument for human cloning and nature vs. nurture.
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 12 2011, 10:55 PM
Three Words: Adjustable Focusing Elements
My lawnmower can only cut a tiny patch of grass at any given moment. But somehow I manage to cut my rather large lawn. I dunno, it must be magic or something.
Compared to the engineering behind the laser itself, working up a focusing system so it can rapidly scan the beam back and forth across any given area should be trivial. If the beam can kill a man in 0.2 seconds, scanning back and forth in lines can quickly render the entire area being covered lethal to foot soldiers, quickly damage and degrade most vehicles, and cook off ammo stores. You could even adjust how closely the scan lines are together based on target types - trying to cook troops will probably need a much finer scan grid than trying to cook vehicles.
It would probably require a mini-nuke power plant to provide the energy needed for both the laser and the cooling system, and set the whole target area on fire, but hey.
I'll admit, though, even with such a system, they'd target small areas, not whole battlefields. But combined with cameras and other sensors to track movement, anyone caught out in the open in the target zone is likely to have a very bad day.
Then again, this is also true of ground troops getting targeted by an AC-130 already, so mebbe it's not such a new thing.
-k
Posted by: Tanegar Jul 12 2011, 10:58 PM
Depends on the thickness of the beam. With these first-gen combat lasers, I'm guessing that's a few millimeters to one, maybe two centimeters. Not really useful for "carpet bombing." In order to saturate a useful area, you'd have to move the beam so fast that it wouldn't have any effect. Lasers are not going to make firearms or explosives obsolete any time soon.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 12 2011, 11:14 PM
Make one hell of a BBQ along a dry forest.
Posted by: Jhaiisiin Jul 16 2011, 09:22 PM
So wait? They weaponized lasers finally? So THAT'S what happened up near Los Alamos... 
(For those not aware, New Mexico's largest fire started a few weeks back and is still not fully contained, right up near Los Alamos)
Posted by: nezumi Jul 17 2011, 11:07 AM
If you have a flat field, you could also just sit it down in the middle point out out and rotate 360 degrees.
Posted by: CanRay Jul 17 2011, 02:55 PM
*Blinks* Maybe it's just because I woke up, but you did *NOT* just tell him to sit on it and rotate, did you Nezumi?
Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 17 2011, 02:56 PM
Heh... That is what it looked like to me...
Posted by: KarmaInferno Jul 18 2011, 01:00 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGNlW7WqcRo&t=1m02s
Rotate?
-k
Posted by: nezumi Jul 18 2011, 01:13 PM
Funny, I saw that the day after I posted
But no, please do NOT sit on a laser and rotate (unless you like a perfectly flat, cooked bottom).
Posted by: CanRay Jul 18 2011, 05:14 PM
One way to get rid of a flabby ass. No pain, no gain!
Posted by: Christian Lafay Jul 19 2011, 01:16 AM
But in the words of Al Bundy, "I like my 'Hold Me' hiney..."
Posted by: Stahlseele Jul 19 2011, 08:53 AM
"Those are Love-Handles"
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